• FAO forecasts a 4 % rise in food import spending from 2024

• Cereals remain the top import item at $21.9 billion

• Rising costs reflect strong demand and global supply pressures

Food imports in Sub-Saharan Africa are expected to total $65 billion by the end of 2025, according to the latest estimates from the FAO in its semiannual Food Outlook report published on Thursday, November 13. If confirmed, this projection would represent a 4 % increase from the $62.8 billion spent in 2024 and mark a third consecutive year of growth.

The UN agency reports that cereals such as wheat, rice, barley, and wheat flour remain the region’s largest expense, with purchases projected at $21.9 billion, or about 34 % of total food imports. Edible oils rank second, followed by fishery products, sugar, and beverages, which together are expected to account for $23.4 billion in purchases.

Apart from cereals, sugar, and meat, spending on all other food categories has increased year over year. The FAO notes that the import bill for oils and fats is expected to rise due to tight global supplies of vegetable oils, driven in part by limited growth in palm oil output. It adds that spending on products such as fish and fruits and vegetables will increase, supported by strong demand in middle- and high-income countries.

Overall, the expected rise in Sub-Saharan Africa’s food import bill aligns with global trends. The report forecasts that the global Food Import Bill (FIB) will increase by nearly 8 % to $2.22 trillion in 2025, a new record.

The different categories of imported food products

The report notes that, in absolute terms, the rise in the global Food Import Bill is mainly driven by high-income countries because of increasing import costs for coffee and cocoa. It adds that the steepest annual percentage increase is expected in least developed countries, where spending on animal and vegetable oils could grow by up to 58 % compared with 2024.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire are the top five food-importing countries, according to a report published by UNCTAD last July.